site.btaNational Statistical Institute Denies Role in Launch of Retail Price Platform

In an open letter on Tuesday, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) denied having any role in the launch of a platform where consumers can monitor daily retail prices ahead of the euro changeover in Bulgaria. "First and foremost, the Commission for Consumer Protection (CPC) does not require approval from the NSI in order to publish daily individual retail prices of goods," NSI said in the letter. It came in response to a statement by the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) that it is ready with the platform but is awaiting the NSI approval to begin publishing daily prices of goods from the large consumer basket.

NSI cites Article 55b, Paragraph 1 of the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria Act which says that the prices of goods from the large consumer basket must be published by retailers on their websites and sent to the CCP for inclusion in the price portal. 

The said law does not mention a role for NSI in the launch or operation of the portal.

The national plan for the euro changeover, however, says that "a communications working group with the coordination council for the preparation for Bulgaria's eurozone entry, in cooperation with the National Statistical Institute and the Commission for Consumer Protection, will publish monthly data on price trends for key categories of goods and services on the euro website". 

NSI goes on to say in its open letter: "Since the end of 2024, NSI has consistently expressed its willingness to provide expert assistance, consultations, and methodological support within the scope of its authority. Such support has been provided during working meetings and discussions held at the NSI, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Ministry of Finance, and the Council of Ministers. The Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, including the most recent amendments published in the State Gazette, issue 65 of August 8, 2025, does not provide for any obligation on the part of the NSI to issue approvals, orders, or instructions. According to Article 55b, paragraph 7 of the law, responsibility for these actions lies entirely with the CCP. The only obligation of the NSI, as regulated in Article 54, paragraph 1 of the LIERB, is fully fulfilled."

Article 54 says that NSI, the Bulgarian National Bank, and the statistical authorities will convert into euros the statistical information previously published in leva for periods before the introduction of the euro, in accordance with the established conversion and rounding rules.

"NSI has repeatedly recommended that the CCP use the official consumer basket, which has been formally provided, discussed at multiple expert meetings, and is publicly available on the Institute’s website. The decision whether to use the entire basket or to select specific groups and categories of goods falls within the competence of the CPC.